Public Liability

What Is Public Liability?

A public liability claim is a compensation claim taken out against a third party in a place that is accessible to the public such as restaurant, bar, school, hotel, parks, pavements, train station or sporting arena.

Any place that is going to be used by members of the public must be maintained to a safe standard. You have a right to enjoy the public places without the risk of being injured. To achieve this, the person or organisation responsible for the area must take reasonable steps to ensure the public’s safety.

The question of who is responsible for this depends on the place. For instance, local authorities are responsible for maintaining highways and pavements whilst businesses are responsible for the safety of any visitors who enter their premises.

Common Examples of Public Liability Claims

1. Slips, trips, and falls from hazards such as obstructions, wet surfaces, or broken infrastructure.
2. Injuries from broken equipment or faulty facilities.
3. Injury from an assault or animal attack.
4. Burns from hot water or illness from food poisoning.
5. Injuries from hazardous substances such as chemicals or dangerous objects including shattered glass.

Eligibility To Make a Public Liability Claim

If you have been injured through no fault of your own in a public place, you may be entitled to make a public liability claim for personal injury compensation.

To be considered for a public liability claim, you must prove that:

1. You were entitled to be where the accident occurred, and that the responsible organisation therefore owes you a duty of care.
2. It was the business or the relevant organisation that caused you an accident through their negligence.
3. The alleged accident caused you to suffer injuries.

Compensation in a Public Liability Claim:

Compensation can be awarded for:

1. Your physical and/or psychological pain and suffering
2. Your financial losses and expenses
3. Medical treatment
4. Rehabilitation

What To Do If You’re Injured in a Public Place?

If you have been involved in an incident in a public place, you should record all the relevant details of the accident as well as your injuries as soon as possible. If for example, you stumbled in a pothole, take measurements of the depth and height of the pothole.

You should take photographs of the scene where your incident occurred.

You should ask if the relevant organisation responsible for the area has an Accident Book. Most businesses will have these which records all the accidents that have occurred in the premises. If the relevant organisation has an Accident Book, ensure that your incident is or has been recorded.

Need Help?

Here at Law Lane Solicitors, we have the experience and expertise to advise you on your personal injury claim. If you would like to speak to one of our Personal Injury specialists, then please call us on 0207 870 4870 today.